Diseases that make foreign workers ineligible to work or take out health insurance

       Foreign workers who come to work in Thailand must undergo a medical examination and obtain health insurance before registering to work legally; however, there are prohibited diseases according to the Notification of the Ministry of Public Health on Health Checkup and Labor Health Insurance. Foreigners with the following diseases or disabilities are not allowed to work and are not allowed to take out health insurance, so they must return to their country of origin:

• Contagious tuberculosis;
• Leprosy in the contagious stage or in the stage when symptoms appear appalling to society;
• Lymphatic filariasis in the stage when the symptoms are appalling to society;
  Stage 3 syphilis;
• Addiction to harmful drugs;
• Alcoholism with obvious symptoms;
• Physically disabled to the point of being unable to work;
• Mental instability or infirmity, at the discretion of the physician;

       If someone with the above symptoms is found, officials will coordinate with the Immigration Office (Immigration) or relevant agencies to send the foreign worker back to their country of origin. 

Source: Health Insurance Operation Manual for Aliens and Foreign Workers. Ministry of Public Health 2020. 

Division of Health Economy and Health Security, Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Public Health, 88/20 Tiwanon Road, Talad Khwan Subdistrict, Mueang District, Nonthaburi Province 11000.

Tel. +66 2590 1553